PV Arts reopens gallery, welcomes new executive director
WATSONVILLE—After a year of being shuttered, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) has once again fully opened its gallery to the public.
On April 9, the organization welcomed the public back with the start of its annual fundraising exhibit, “Take Aways: Art to Go!” Now in its...
Freedom Boulevard facelift scheduled for next fiscal year
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville this coming fiscal year will use nearly $5 million in Measure D and Senate Bill 1 funds to move forward on several road improvement projects within city limits.
The list of projects, approved 6-0 by the City Council Tuesday, includes a...
End of an era: Yamashita Market closing its doors this summer
WATSONVILLE—After more than seven decades in business, Yamashita Market—Santa Cruz County’s only store dedicated to Asian cooking supplies—is set to close its doors for good, likely sometime in July.
The store’s owner Goro Yamashita says that business was steadily declining even before Covid-19 forced businesses...
Mobile crisis center helps South County’s young people
WATSONVILLE—Young people in South County suffering from mental health crises now have the option of a response that does not have to involve hospitalization.
The South County Mobile Emergency Response Team for Youth (MERTY) was created to provide community and field-based crisis intervention services to...
Sheriff’s Office seeks info on Hwy 129 crash
WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from the public in gaining information about a vehicle crash early Tuesday on the outskirts of Watsonville.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn in a Facebook post said that sometime between 4-6am there was a solo-vehicle...
New businesses flock to Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Several new businesses are in the works around Watsonville, all forging ahead despite the looming cloud of the pandemic.
A new drive-thru Starbucks in Watsonville Square, a Mexican food restaurant in the historic Mansion House, a panaderia (bakery) on East Fifth Street and a taqueria...
Maddy Middleton’s killer pleads guilty, could be released at 25
SANTA CRUZ—The man who was 15 when he kidnapped, raped and murdered 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in 2015 pleaded guilty to the charges on Tuesday, setting the stage for a sentencing that could see him released by the time he is 25.
That is because...
Local bands perform virtual show in San Francisco
On April 3, two local bands were invited to perform at a special live streamed concert at The Complex, a recording and production space in the heart of San Francisco.
Bayview, a three-piece rock group made up of school friends Adam Renteria, Keith Rayburn and...
Watsonville man injured in honey oil lab explosion
PRUNEDALE—A 35-year-old Watsonville man was injured in a butane honey oil lab explosion in Prunedale Monday.
Francisco Ponce was in the area when Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the 16000 block of Meridian Road around 3pm to investigate a report of an explosion.
Ponce...
Johnson & Johnson pause not expected to slow county’s vaccine efforts
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delayed for an undetermined amount of time, the pause of the single-dose inoculation is not expected to significantly slow the county’s vaccination efforts.
That’s according to Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin,...
PVUSD Board to consider Deputy Superintendent position
Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees on Wednesday will consider creating a new deputy superintendent position and approving a three-year contract for the role.
The...
